Resilient wheel.



2 SHEETS-SHEET bnl mww G. GRECO.

RESILIENT WHEEL. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 17, 19KB- 1,208,948. I PatentedDec. 19,1916.

' Z SHEETS-SHEET 2- GAETANO GREGG, 0F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

' RESILIEN'J. WHEEL.

Specification of Letters .Patent. Patented Dec, 19, 1916.

Application filed June 17, 1916. Serial No. 104,215.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GAETANO Gnnoo, a

subject of the King of Italy, residing at Pittsburgh, in the county ofAllegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Resilient lVheels, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in resilientwheels.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a vehicle wheelfurnishing suitable resiliency under load conditions and eliminating theuse of an inner tube or rubber cushioning member, spring means beingsubstituted therefor incapable of being punctured and possessing greatwearing properties.

A further object of the device is to provide a wheel having a rimmounted casing arranged with a sectional spring filling memberadjustably tensioned therein,

whereby the properties of the usual pneumatic tire are imparted to thedevice in which punctures and blow-outs are impossible.

In carrying out the present objects, a sectional plate having a rubberenvelop constitutes the shoe member being adapted for removablepositioning upon a collapsible rim, a plurality of interengaging fillingsprings being positionable within the said shoe member, a sectionaltensioning device for the filling springs being arranged thereforoperable inwardly of the rim.

In the drawings forming a part of this application and in which likedesignating characters refer to corresponding parts throughout theseveral views :Figure 1 is a side elevation of the rim and tire of awheel of the present form partiallfbroken away. Fig. 2 isa top plan viewof the same a section of one of the filler partially broken away. Fig. 3is-a trans of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of springs employedwith the device. Fig. 6 is aperspective View of a portion of theconnecting tread plate for the arched spring plate sections. Fig. 7 is aperspective view of a portion of one of the locking channel bars for thefiller springs. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one of the arched springplates and the adjacent members, parts being broken away. Fig. 9 is asectional view enlarged taken upon line IX-IX of Fig. 10. Fig. 10 is atransverse sectional view taken upon line XX of Fig. 2. Fig. 11 is anenlarged detail sectional view of a portion of the mounting means forthe channel bar. Fig. 12 ,is an enlarged detail sectional view through aportion of the complete shoe memher, and Fig. 13 is a perspective viewof a washer employed with the device.

Referring more in detail to the drawings,

a rim 10 is provided of substantially the usual channel shape invcrosssection, the

same however being in the form of a split ring having one of the endsthereof provided with a connecting plate 11 having perforations 12 forreceiving hooks 13 upon the depressed portion 14 of the adjacent end ofthe rim whereby the rim is arranged in circular formation adapted to bepositioned upon the folly of a wheel in the usual'manner.

A plurality of arched spring'plates 15 are provided having their centralportions connected together by a tread plate 16 by means of suitablepins 17 whereby the plates are arranged in spaced relations, it beingunderstood that the tread plate 16 has its ends slightly relativelymovable. The opposite ends 18 of the plates 15 are overturned for thereception of locking wires 19 which are positioned inwardly of theopposite flanges of the rim 10, the plates 15 and tread plate 'beingcoveredby an envelop 20 of rubber and forming therewith a complete tireshoe. Resilient filling members are provided for the said shoe, eachconsisting of two spring sections 21 and 22, the former being a hoopmember and the latter a loop member or section, the said sections 21 and22 being secured together at their bases or ends by rivets 23, each hoopand loop section thereby forming a resilient fillei member or spring.

Each of the loop sections 22 is provided with a link 24 secured to itscentral portion interiorly thereof, the links having openings 25adjacent tl ei'l" ends adapted for freely receiving the aforementionedpins. 17 it being understood that rivets 26 connect the central portionsof the hoop sections 21 with the central portions of the loop sections22 as well as securingthe links 24' to the same.

'Spacing lugs 27 are carriedby the rim 10 being arranged between theaiiljacenthoop section 21 for spacing the filler members apart. A.plurality of locking bars 28 are arranged interiorly of the loops 22inwedging contact therewith, the same being of channel shape incross-section with their opposlte sides inwardly tapered toward the run'10 affording wedging surfaces in contact with the opposite sides of theloops 22. Spacing lugs 29 are oppositely arranged upon the locking bars28 for positioning be tween the adjacent loops 22 and spacing the latterapart. I

Connecting yokes 3O are pivoted upon trunnions 31 between the oppbsi temarginal edgesof the locking bars 28, tl'hile adjusting screws 32 arethreaded through the central enlarged portions 33 of the yokes 30 andextend radially with their heads 34 extend ing through perforations 35in the rim 10; In order that the adjusting screws- 32 may be readilyinserted into the locking bars 28,

the perforationsBS: are made relatively large as regards the diameter ofthe screws, so that the latter may be moved about in said openings 35 tofind the threaded openings in bars 28. When they are inserted in thebars, they are then held at their headed end by \vashers'36 each havinga slot 37 to receive the screw shank, the washers being larger than theopenings 35 and being ongaged with the screws between" theheadsillustrated '1 and 3 of'the drawings.

Prior to such positioning Qfthe' shoe, the

filler spring members consisting of the hoops 21 and loops 22arepositioned therein With the links 24L in overlapping arrangementmounted upon the pins 17. The locking bars 28 are then [arranged Withinthe loop sections 22, the bar lugs 29 and rim lugs 27 suitably spacingthe. filler members apart. The screws 32 are then inserted through theopenings 35, and engaged with the lockingbars, and the Washers 36 areplaced on the screw shanks, and the screws turned to provide the desiredtension on the filling memand the arched plates of said shoe.

bers and give the required degree of resiliency to the entire tireformation.

It will'be understood that the rim 10 may be mounted in any desiredmanner upon'any form of wheel: felly desirable and while the presentform of the device is believed to be the/preferable, embodiment thereof,it will he understood that minor changes may be. made therein withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim as new 1s: 1. A resilient wheel comprising a rim, a

v rubber shoe mounted thereon, a plurality of filler springs arrangedwithin the shoe, spacing means for the said filler springs, a-

plurality of wedging tensioning bars within the said springs and anadjusting means for the said bars. I

2. A resilient wheel comprising a. split rim, a plurality of spacedarched spring plates mounted upon said rim, a connecting tread platecentrally engaging the said arched plates, inwardly projecting radialpins attached to the said arched and tread. plates, binding wiresengaging the opposite ends of the said arched plates positioned adjacent the said rim, a rubber envelop for the said arched plate and treadplate and spring filler members mounted interiorly of the said archedplates and loosely connected to the said pins.

3. A resilient wheel comprising in combination with a split rim, a shoecomprising a plurality of spaced arched spring plates mountedupon'saidrim, a connecting tread plate centrally engaging the said arched plates,inwardly projecting radial pins con necting the said arched plates andtread plate, binding wires engaging the opposite ends of the said archedplates positioned adjacent the said rim, a rubber envelop for the saidarched plates and tread plate, and resilient filler members within saidshoe.

4. In a resilient wheel, the combination with a sectional rim havingcentral perforations, and lugs upon said rim, of a shoe mounted in saidrim comprising arched spring plates, a tread plate connecting the archedplates, and a treadmember inclosingthe arched plates and tread plate,resilient filler members arranged within said shoe and spaced apart bythe lugs of said rim, locking bars engaging said resilient fillermembers, and adjusting screws extending through said perforations in therim and engaging said locking bar for adjusting the tension of saidfiller members.

5. A resilient wheel comprising a shoe embodying a tread member, andarched spring plates within said tread member, filler springs arrangedwithin the shoe contactin'g the sides thereof and having centrallyarranged loops, tensioning means positioned within the said loops, andloose connections between the said filler springs 8. A resilient wheelcomprising a rim, a shoe upon the said rim, resilient loops Within thesaid shoe, loose connections between the said loops, locking bars Withinthe said 5 loops, spacing lugs for the loops upon the said locking bars,spanning yokes swivelly mounted upon the said bars, adjusting andbearing support members for the said 1 screws.

In testimony whereof I afliz; my signature.

GAETANO onnoo.

